The latest on California politics and government

April 30, 2014

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Today marks the 40th annual Capitol Frog Jump, in which legislators, their staffers, the media and members of the public "jockey" frogs to hop the farthest (or the shortest). The event, hosted by state Sen. Tom Berryhill, R-Twain Harte, promotes the Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee in May.

Sen. Berryhill's office said one competitor has promised to appear in full frog costume, complete with a princess hat and fly bow tie. Check out all the leaping action on the east lawn, near the trout pond, at 11:30 a.m.

VIDEO: The battles of Proposition 13 have been revived by a parcel tax bill, Dan Walters says.

UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE: A plan from state Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, to expand California's health care exchange to undocumented immigrants, one of Capitol Alert's bills to watch, gets its first hearing today before the Senate Health Committee, 1:30 p.m. in Room 4203 of the Capitol. Lara and immigration advocates will rally for the bill at 11 a.m. on the west steps of the building, where they will be met by the "CARE-van," which drove from San Diego to Sacramento drumming up support for the legislation.

SCHOOL STANDARDS: Calling it a "covert privately-backed Federal takeover of the State-run education system," opponents of Common Core will rally against the new K-12 education standards at 10 a.m. in Capitol Park near 12th and N streets. The event, organized by Democrats Against Common Core, Californians United Against Common Core and Eagle Forum of California, will feature Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim Donnelly and State Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate Lydia Gutierrez. Donnelly has a bill allowing schools to opt out of Common Core that will be heard by the Assembly Education Committee at 1:30 p.m. in Room 4202 of the Capitol.

SHE'LL BE BACK: The "Kid Governor," 8-year-old Celeste Umaña, returns to Sacramento to deliver her State of the State address calling for more investment in early childhood education. The rally at 12:30 p.m. on the south steps of the Capitol, organized by Raising California Together, will also feature Assemblyman Anthony Rendon, D-Lakewood.

AUTISM AWARENESS: Autism advocates, including the Special Seeds Network, will hear from Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and Sen. Holly Mitchell, D-Los Angeles, during a rally to highlight Autism Awareness Month, 11:30 a.m. on the north steps of the Capitol.

DOWN SOUTH: Gov. Jerry Brown, clearly preferring dogs, will skip the frog jump to attend the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills today. He participates in a panel on precision medicine at 2:45 p.m. at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.